WEEKLY NEWS & UPDATES FROM WBLUMC | Thursday, April 30, 2026

Sunday worship | May 3, 2026

In-person | 9am Traditions 

& 10:45am New Crossings


Easter in our Bodies | Matthew 25:31-46

Pastor Chris Kneen


This Easter season, we’re exploring what resurrection means not just as a story—but as something we experience in our bodies.


In “Easter in Our Bodies,” we’ll reflect on how hope, healing, grief, joy, and new life show up in real, physical ways in our lives. Together we’ll ask: What does it mean to live resurrection—here, now, in the bodies we carry every day?


Join us for a thoughtful, embodied journey through Eastertide.


Confirmation this Sunday

This year's confirmands are Veronica Finc, Lucy Hoadley, Finn Miller, Aaron Mullin, Millie Viaviattine, and Parker Wolfe. Congratulations!


Confirmands, please meet at church at 8:30am; students are confirmed during 9am worship. Parents and extended support are invited. After the service, greet the congregation during fellowship time and stay for pictures.



Church Online continues weekly at 10am.




Church Online

• Weekly online worship is available early Sunday mornings on YouTube

• You can also watch via the church website by using the Church Online button. 

• Our Facebook premiere with live chat is every Sunday at 10am. Please share the service so more people can join us! 

• You may view all Ministry Minute videos on this YouTube playlist

Sunday School

Sunday school is available during the 9am service for kids 3 year old and up. Through May 10 our lessons will focus on Finding God in Storybooks—What does God look like? Dream about? Where does God live? How do we talk and listen to God? Our artist storytellers have fresh and unique perspectives. 



Nursery is open for infants to 3-year-olds during both 9am and 10:45am worship services.

Baking with a Purpose (BWAP) this Sunday!

Join us in Fellowship Hall between services this Sun., May 3 for our BWAP event featuring craisin walnut, and both a white and whole wheat sourdough. In partnership with Faith in Action, the proceeds from the sale will be put towards Century College Scholarships. We look forward to seeing you!

Coming up in Worship

Pentecost Sunday & Summer Worship

Our summer worship schedule begins on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, with one blended service at 10am! As a symbol of the flame of the Holy Spirit, we invite you to wear something red during worship—you can at home for Church Online, too!

Summer Sermon Series

We never really walk alone: Soul Friends accompany us on our spiritual journey. Explore the path with us May 31 - July12!


Connections

Solid Ground 21st Annual Breakfast

Solid Ground in White Bear Lake, one of our mission partners, is hosting a free breakfast event on Wed., May 6. Because of our church’s ongoing support, including your many generous gifts via the Holiday Express tree at Christmas time, they have personally invited us to attend. 

 

At the breakfast, they will “share stories of impact…and a new project to serve families experiencing homelessness.” It will be a morning focused on community and hope. 

 

If you’d like to attend this breakfast and learn more about Solid Ground’s work in our community, please click on this link.

 

Where: Jimmy’s Event Center

3565 Labore Ave, Vadnais Heights, MN 55110

Time: 8:00-9:00am

Missionary Reception

Join us Thurs., May 7 at 4:00pm in Fellowship Hall for a reception to meet UMC missionary Lorraine Charinda. Lorraine serves with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries in the agricultural sector of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A missionary since 2017, she is visiting the U.S. to share about her work and connect with covenant partners. To learn more about Lorraine, please click on her photo. Light refreshments will be served.

Rainbow Families

Are you the parent or grandparent of a member of the LGBTQ community? Join us for conversation and fellowship on Thurs., May 7 at 6 pm in the church library. Questions? Contact LuAnn Roberts or (218) 590-6424.

Hearts and Hands for May:

Reminder—due to Memorial Day, Hearts and Hands will be meeting the 2nd Monday in May rather than the 3rd. Please join us on Mon., May 11 at 7:00pm in the library!

Dorcas Circle

Dorcas Circle will be meeting on Wed., May 13 at 10:00am in room 200 for our year end salad luncheon. We will be hearing an update from Emma Norton services which provides housing and related services to women and children experiencing homelessness or living with mental illness in St. Paul. All who are interested in learning more about Emma Norton are welcome to attend.


Emma Norton Donation: Reminder, we are still collecting personal care items for donation to Emma Norton to support their residents. A blue bin is in the fellowship hall next to the food shelf box for contributions. Please click here for a list of requested items. Donations will be delivered May 13. 


For questions regarding Emma Norton, contact Eva Shipley at (651) 238-4107.

Good Mourning Concert returns:

In collaboration with WBLUMC, vocalist and producer Jennifer Grimm returns with “Good Mourning,” a powerful and reflective concert offering space for grief, healing, and remembrance through music. Join us Mon., May 11 at 6:30pm in the sanctuary as we gather with others that carrying loss—recent or long-held—to reflect, remember, and be held in a shared experience of light and hope. For more information visit Jennifer's website.

Women’s Golf Group 2026 

We will be golfing as a group again this summer. Women of all ages who are interested in playing a social round of golf are invited to join this group. We play 9 holes of golf on Wednesdays either late morning or early afternoon at a different course each week. You play as your schedule permits. Tentatively our first golf outing will be Wed., May 13th at Gem Lake Hills Golf Course


If you are interested in playing or would like more information, please contact Marcia Lantto – malantto@hotmail.com, alternate contact is Carol Effertz 651-429-6023.  We hope to see you soon.


To view the 2026 Golf Schedule, please click here or on the photo.

BeFrienders Ministry

BeFrienders Ministry is sponsoring a nature walk at Tamarack Nature Center on Mon., May 18th at 2:00pm. We will have a guided walk with a retired Methodist pastor. All are welcome. For questions, contact Barb Hinz at 651-777-0465. 

Monday Book Club

The title for May, our last for this reading year, is "The Women of Arlington Hall" by Jane Healey. We’ll meet on Monday, May 18, 7-8:15pm, with your choice of in-person in room 200 or via Zoom; email Rick Flynn. Thank you for joining the Book Club this year! We will reconvene in the fall!

World Views Workshops • Sundays

4:00 PM-5:15 PM • Room 200


The May 3: We will Compare the Spiritualist World View with the Integral World-View. The Workshop format is - The Presentation of Information followed by Small Group Discussion. It is recommended that participants read Walter Wink’s book, “The Powers That Be.”

You can register through Realm or simply come without registration. All are welcome!


Our final two workshop dates are May 10 and May 17!

 Green Team Events

The Green Team continues to celebrate Earth Day and invites you to participate in these final events.


Take a tour of a recycling facility! Curious about where your trash goes after it leaves the curb? Join the Green Team for a 90-minute tour of the Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy Center (R&E Center) in Newport on May 7th at 2:00pm. All trash generated in Ramsey and Washington Counties is delivered to the R&E Center where waste is processed to recover recyclables and make fuel for electricity production. We'll meet at the church at 1:15pm to coordinate carpooling to Newport. The size of the group is limited to 25 and we are filling up so please sign up in the Narthex or register in Realm by May 3rd. Appropriate dress for the tour is closed-toe shoes and long pants/sleeves. Safety equipment will be provided. For more information, visit the Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy Center website or email Bonnie Greenleaf


Attend the BreadX: We are teaming up with Adult Faith Formation to host a BreadX featuring our own Frank Watson, meteorologist, on the topic, "Minnesota Climate: Past, Current & Future. Please join us on Thurs., May 14 at 6:00pm; dinner will be catered from Red Luna Seasons. Please let us know you are attending by registering on realm or you may sign up in the narthex.


For additional information on any of these events, please visit the church calendar and click into each event. You may also contact Margie Grilley.

Spring Clean-Up:

Spring is here! It time once again to clean up the church gardens and grounds, add mulch to the gardens and work on our new pollinator garden.

When: May 2 and May 16 

Time: 9am-Noon (come one day or both)

 

Bring you rakes and gloves and help us get the church ready for spring and summer.  

 

Much appreciation ~

The Trustees

Jim's Joy!!

Our Director of Operations, Jim Lindner, always waits until April 30 to put the snow removal gear away. As Jim says, “It's less likely to snow in May—and I haven’t been wrong yet!” Words to live by! Thank you for officially closing the door on this year's winter, Jim!!

Adopt a Garden:

Our church gardens are beautiful, thanks to the care and dedication of those who tend them—and both staff and congregants deeply appreciate these efforts. If you’re interested in helping maintain a garden plot in the flower beds around the church, we’d love to have you join us. Please email Linda Anderson, or (651) 592-7452 for more information.

National Day of Prayer

You are invited to attend a National Day of Prayer Gathering on Thurs., May 7 from 7:00pm-8:00pm. The event is being held at Community of Grace Lutheran Church, which is our neighboring church to the north. Please join and invite a friend. Light refreshments will be available after the service.

Pastor David Doppenberg to Retire

Pastor David Doppenberg will retire this summer from Elk River UMC. His final worship service is Sun., June 7, with a celebratory reception to follow.

If you’d like to send a note of congratulations for his memory book, mail it to Pastor David Doppenberg c/o Elk River UMC, 1304 Main St. NW, Elk River, MN 55330.

To attend the service, please contact the church at 763-441-2750 with your name and number attending.

Art in the Hallway! Co-Creations: 

Art in Collaboration with AI

by Randy LaFoy

This collection explores artwork created in partnership with artificial intelligence—not as a replacement for the artist, but as a responsive digital tool shaped by human intent and imagination. Each piece reflects a collaboration between personal vision and expansive digital patterns, highlighting how emerging technology can push the boundaries of creativity while expressing timeless feelings of beauty and wonder.

May I purchase a piece of art? YES! Proceeds from sales will cover production costs, with remaining funds donated to the Tanzania Life Project.

1. Choose Art: Browse art displayed in the halls and mark your selection on the sheet.

2. Payment: Make checks to WBLUMC with Tanzania Life Project in the memo line or drop cash off in the office.

3. Take art home: You may take your artwork home after worship on May 31.


Thank you for supporting the Tanzania Life Project!

Church Calendar & Elected Committee Meeting Minutes

May Elected Committee Meetings

Below are the May meeting dates for the church committees with elected members, in addition to the volunteer Worship Committee.

Mon., May 4: Worship Comm. Mtg., 5:30pm, library

Thurs., May 7: Staff-Parish Relations Comm., 2:30pm, rm. 206

Tues. May 12: Trustees Comm., 6:30pm, rm. 200

Thurs. May 14: Finance Comm., 7:00pm, rm. 200

Thurs., May 21: Church Council Mtg., 6:30pm, rm. 200 

Church Calendar

Click the church calendar button to find out more about meetings, events and worship on the frequently updated online church calendar.

Meeting Minutes:

All committees are being asked to provide minutes, and we now have a Realm link for the congregation to access this information. Click the video below to learn how to view all minutes that are available!



Committee Minutes

WHITE BEAR LAKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | 651-429-9026 | wblumc.org

General email: office@wblumc.org | OFFICE HOURS: 9am-1pm M,T,W, Th

Pastor Chris Kneen email: christopher.kneen@wblumc.org

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